The Russellville City Board of Education has contracted with a Huntsville-based firm to help develop a five-year strategic plan for the system.
Board members approved a contract with LEAN Frog, founded by Byron Headrick in 2009, that will pay the company $15,000 over a six-month period to help Russellville City Schools craft a vision, plan and goals for the next five years.
The first step will be the development of a survey for community members and parents to determine where priorities lie within the community when it comes to the local school system.
“We'll launch the survey at the end of May and want people to be looking for that,” RCS superintendent Heath Grimes said. “Community input is vital to make this plan worthwhile and to truly reflect what's important to the local community and to parents.”
The board approved the contract at its April 28 meeting. The board also approved a $20/hour contract, up to a total of $20,000 per year, for public relations services from Kellie Singleton.
Singleton, a former reporter for the Times Daily and Franklin County Times, will handle social media responsibilities for Russellville City Schools on Twitter and Facebook. Additionally, Singleton will draft press releases and contribute to the RCS website. Grimes said she will also “be working through some of the out-of-district policies that will be online. We want to make sure that it's smooth and accommodating for parents going through that process.”
Grimes said the cost of a public relations consultant was justified during the time the system is working through developing its strategic plan and its out-of-district admission policy.
“This is something encouraged by the Alabama Public School Media Relations Group,” Grimes said. “It's a huge asset for every school system to have someone working through these things. It's about getting the word out and providing equitable resources to all media outlets.
“There's so much negative being said about our public school system these days that we need to promote what we're doing and let people know what's happening with Russellville City Schools."
In other action, the board:
•Accepted Retirements in Position from: Judy Vafeas, EL Aide, RES; Carolyn Hubbard, Custodian, RES; John Smith, teacher, RHS. Accepted Resignations in Position from: Shane Reid, RHS teacher and Brooke Long, teacher and girls varsity basketball coach RHS; Transfers in Position from Jason Goodwin, from RHS Assistant Principal to Principal at RHS and approved Linda McKinney, Guillermina Zamora, Abby McHugh and John Smith as substitute teachers.
•Approved trip requests from RHS Cheerleaders and RMS Cheerleaders from May 31-June 4 to attend cheer camp at Auburn University.
•Recognized Destiny Cooper, Emili Crummie and Patrick Crummie for receiving honors as All-State Chorus Festival and Emili Crummie as All-State Show Choir.
•Set the next regular meeting for Thursday, May 26, at 3:30 p.m., with work session Monday, May 23, at 3:30 p.m.
